Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMPI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMPI’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and sturdy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large, decorative type inflorescences with purplish pink-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDAMPI’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT and ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application, Beekenkamp Plants B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Oct. 1, 2020, application number 2020/2422. Foreign priority is not claimed to this European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKDAMPI’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching container Dahlia plants with large inflorescences and attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in September, 2014 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number 2007-0120-2, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since June, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKDAMPI’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKDAMPI’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and sturdy plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large, decorative type inflorescences with purplish         pink-colored ray florets.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in inflorescence size as plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are more outwardly facing than and not as upright as inflorescences of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia variabilis ‘Daparos’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,560. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of ‘Daparos’ in inflorescence size as plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences than plants of ‘Daparos’. In addition, inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are more outwardly facing than and not as upright as inflorescences of plants of ‘Daparos’.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia variabilis ‘Rio Grande’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,797. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of ‘Rio Grande’ in inflorescence size as plants of the new Dahlia have larger inflorescences than plants of ‘Rio Grande’. In addition, inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are more outwardly facing than and not as upright as inflorescences of plants of ‘Rio Grande’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMPI’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘BKDAMPI’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 11-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were nine weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘BKDAMPI’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             hybrida identified as code number 2007-0120-2, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia             hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days             at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white to light brown in color, actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of             the new Dahlia.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading plant habit; overall plant shape, roughly             flattened globular with inflorescences held above the foliar             plane on strong peduncles; freely basal branching habit with             about three primary branches each with about two secondary             branches developing per plant; bushy and dense growth habit;             pinching is not required but will improve branching habit;             moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 14.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20.3             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 22.3 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 8.3 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Aspect: Primary             branches are about 20° from vertical; secondary branches are             about 25° from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately             strong to strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144A. Color,             developed: Close to 146A. -   Leaf & leaflet description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite; compound with typically five             leaflets.         -   Length, leaves.—About 13.8 cm.         -   Width, leaves.—About 13.4 cm.         -   Length, terminal leaflets.—About 7.4 cm.         -   Width, terminal leaflets.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Length, lateral leaflets.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Width, lateral leaflets.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape, leaves.—Broadly ovate in outline.         -   Shape, leaflets.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex, leaflets.—Apiculate.         -   Base, leaflets.—Attenuate.         -   Margin, leaflets.—Coarsely serrate to dentate.         -   Venation pattern, leaflets.—Pinnate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface, leaflets.—Mostly smooth,             glabrous with main vein, moderately pubescent; not rugose;             moderately glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface, leaflets.—Mostly smooth,             glabrous with venation, sparsely to moderately pubescent;             slightly rugose; slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to between             137A and 141A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to             between 146A and 147B. Fully expanded leaflets, upper             surface: Close to between NN137A and 147A; venation, close             to 146B. Fully expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close to             191A; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length, leaves: About 3.1 cm. Diameter, leaves:             About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength, leaves: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster, leaves, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, leaves, upper surface:             Close to 199A; towards the margins, close to 146A. Color,             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Decorative type inflorescences             with ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a             receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face mostly             outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 18 developing             and fully developed inflorescences per plant at one time.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response and flowering period.—Early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about 52 days after planting;             plants flower continuously during the autumn into the winter             in The Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             2.1 cm. Shape: Flattened globular; involucral bracts             slightly reflexed. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Close to 143B; towards the base, close to             143A; involucral bracts, close to NN137A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 9.1 cm. Depth (height):             About 6.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.2 cm; typically             inconspicuous.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 120 arranged in about eight whorls. Length: About             4.2 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Obovate; concave. Apex:             Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect:             Slightly upright to horizontal; reflexing with subsequent             development. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; mostly matte with             venation, glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 155C slightly tinged with close to 65D; towards the base,             close to 2B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 62A and             62B; towards the apex, close to 155D; towards the base,             close to 154C to 154D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             62B; towards the apex, close to 75C; towards the base, close             to 13B to 13C; venation, similar to lamina; color becoming             closer to 75C with subsequent development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 73C and 73D; towards the apex, close             to 155C; towards the base, close to 13D; venation, close to             N155A; color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 45 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about             four spiral whorls; typically inconspicuous. Length: About             1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated;             lower 85% fused and upper 15% free; apices, acute. Texture             and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex:             Close to 13B. Mid-section: Close to 15A. Base: Close to             154C. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex:             Close to 13B. Mid-section and base: Close to 12A.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About eight in a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width:             About 7 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to NN137C. Color, lower surface: Close to NN137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 9 cm. Diameter,             terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to N155A. Anther size:             About 4 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             color: Close to 10A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 17A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only:             Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Style             length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 154D. Stigma             diameter: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to three-parted.             Stigma color: Close to 13A. Ovary color: Close to 145B.             Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Dahlia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Dahlia have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Dahlia plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMPI’ as illustrated and described. 